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**
Jia Nan Academy's Inner Academy Tournament.
With each exhilarating battle, the Inner Academy has become a sea of excitement.
Among the top fifty ranked students, Lin Xiuya and Liu Qing have stood out as the most impressive, defeating their opponents in just a few moves.
Aside from the expected strength of the original top ten ranked students, some dark horse candidates have displayed surprising battle prowess.
Xiao Yan, without a doubt, is the biggest dark horse among them.
During the drawing of opponents, this newcomer, who has only been in the Inner Academy for half a year and leads Pan's Gate, has managed to defeat every opponent in his path, even the key figure Yao Sheng, ranked within the top twenty. Such an impressive track record has quickly drawn attention, with many speculating that Xiao Yan might even have a chance to break into the top ten.
Additionally, Xiao Yan's connection with Mo Yu has prompted much admiration.
People are left wondering just what kind of powerhouse Xiao Clan of Wu Tan City might be, given that two prodigies like them have emerged consecutively.
Beyond Xiao Yan, the members of Mo Gang have also given an unexpectedly outstanding performance.
Apart from Lin Yan and Qian Mo, who were originally ranked within the top ten, even members like Fu Ao, who barely made the top fifty, have achieved notable rankings.
Some sharp-eyed students noticed that while the Mo Gang students' strength seemed average, their weapons allowed them to fight opponents of higher ranks—legendary weapons that enhance their power.
Recalling that the Mo Gang is reputed for their skill in weapon refining, with a leader who is rumored to be a weapon refiner, some Inner Academy students started feeling tempted. After all, who wouldn't want a top-quality weapon?
While everyone fervently discussed the tournament, the first and second days of the Strong List Tournament gradually came to an end.
After dozens of exhilarating matches, the crowd, though dazzled and brimming with excitement, eagerly anticipated the next day's battles. By then, the top ten rankings would be officially revealed…
As night gradually passed, the last trace of the crescent moon disappeared beyond the horizon. A gentle dawn light began to dispel the darkness.
As the first rays of sunlight entered the Inner Academy, the previously quiet atmosphere was immediately replaced by excitement—it was the day when the top ten rankings would be determined.
At this stage of the tournament, the battles had reached their true climax. Every Inner Academy student looked forward to the birth of new top ten ranking experts.
The spacious plaza quickly became packed with people, and the buzzing excitement filled everyone's ears. The charged atmosphere infected every person who entered.
By the time Mo Gang and others arrived at the platform, it was already packed to capacity.
Despite two days of eliminations, leaving more than half of the contestants out, being able to observe such high-level battles was still thrilling even for those who couldn't participate.
On the other side, a large group of students wearing the insignia of the Heavy Xuan Ruler gathered. At the forefront stood the leader of Pan's Gate, Xiao Yan.
At this moment, Xiao Yan was undoubtedly the biggest dark horse of the tournament.
Despite being in the Inner Academy for less than a year, he was now qualified to challenge for the top ten rankings. His strength alone was enough to shock ordinary people, so when he entered, all eyes immediately focused on him.
Under the crowd's gaze, Xiao Yan approached Mo Gang's location.
"Senior Lin Yan, may I ask if my cousin Mo Yu is present?" Xiao Yan politely asked as he cupped his hands toward Lin Yan.
Seeing Xiao Yan, Lin Yan, who knew Xiao Yan was a relative of their leader and also an extraordinary talent, didn't put on airs. Instead, he replied with a wry smile.
"Uh… about our leader's whereabouts, even our Mo Gang isn't exactly sure."
Hearing this, Xiao Yan, along with Xun Er and Xiao Yu beside him, was momentarily stunned. They exchanged puzzled looks, surprise flickering in their eyes.
Mo Yu had been missing for over a month, and now, even the Mo Gang didn't know his whereabouts. It was as if he had vanished without a trace, leaving everyone in a state of bafflement.
However, despite Mo Yu's unknown location, Xiao Yan and the others were not too concerned for his safety. After all, with Mo Yu's skills, there was likely no one other than the academy elders who could be his match.
After some more conversation between the two groups, they turned their attention back to the judges' platform.
Su Qian scanned the crowd, and under everyone's watchful eyes, slowly drew a slip of paper. After a glance, he announced loudly, "Yan Hao."
As Su Qian's voice fell, everyone could clearly see Yan Hao's face tense up.
"The next draw will decide who Yan Hao's opponent for the top ten position will be." Su Qian drew another slip, gave it a glance, and said, "Qian Mo."
Following his voice, all eyes shifted to a slightly chubby young man on the platform—Qian Mo, a member of Mo Gang and ranked eighth on the Strong List list. He was very powerful, just like Yan Hao, both at the peak of Dou Ling.
However, judging from past performances, Qian Mo was generally a bit weaker than Yan Hao. But looking at Qian Mo's calm expression, he didn't seem too worried about the upcoming match.
"Oh? Looks like you're facing your old rival, Qian. Don't embarrass Mo Gang now; otherwise, our leader might be unhappy when he returns."
Upon seeing the match-up, Lin Yan raised an eyebrow and joked.
"Hehe, don't worry. With the Devil Croc Ring Saw personally forged by our leader, it's finally my time to settle the score." Qian Mo's eyes narrowed with a serene smile, like a Buddha concealing boundless depth.
Seeing this, Lin Yan nodded. Having sparred privately with Qian Mo several times recently, he knew the power of Qian Mo's Devil Croc Ring Saw. With such a weapon, the outcome between Qian Mo and Yan Hao was far from certain.
As the match-ups continued, the unexpected happened: the dark horse Xiao Yan was drawn to face the former third-ranked Liu Qing, causing everyone to exclaim with excitement.
Lin Yan looked over at Xiao Yan in surprise, but when he saw Xiao Yan's calm demeanor, a hint of amazement flashed in his eyes.
In Xiao Yan, Lin Yan saw something of his own leader's spirit. Shaking his head, he thought, Another monster…
"The first match: Yan Hao versus Qian Mo!"
As Su Qian's steady voice echoed, the atmosphere reached a fever pitch. All eyes focused on the two on the platform.
In front of everyone, Yan Hao was the first to stand. This solidly built young man, comparable in stature to Liu Qing, stepped to the edge of the platform with an unchanging expression, then jumped down heavily onto the field.
After Yan Hao entered the field, Qian Mo, amidst cheers from his fellow Mo Gang members, casually walked up to the platform.
With both of them in place, the stands buzzed with excitement. Since both were ranked in the top ten, this battle promised to be spectacular.
At Su Qian's calm command to begin, both combatants immediately drew their weapons. Yan Hao, as usual, wielded a massive black iron hammer.
Qian Mo, to everyone's astonishment, pulled out a handful of circular, saw-like weapons in a dark purple hue from his ring.
These small, dark purple circular saws were only the size of a palm, but each one had sharp teeth like those of a crocodile, exuding a menacing aura.
"Heh, it's been a while, Fat Qian. New weapon?" Yan Hao asked nonchalantly, swinging his black iron hammer with a whistling sound that made those nearby cover their ears.
"Sharp eyes as always. Today, I'll let you taste the power of my Devil Croc Ring Saw."
Qian Mo's face twitched with a hearty laugh, but his expression quickly turned serious. He gripped his Devil Croc Ring Saw tightly, and a surge of dense Dou Qi burst from his body, forming whirling gusts around him. Under his control, the energy condensed onto the weapon, imbuing it with a sinister aura.
"Ha!"
With a low shout, Qian Mo's arm trembled, and the dark-purple gleam of the saw flashed forward like a bloodthirsty beast, shooting straight toward Yan Hao.
The speed of the attack was terrifying, and the audience only caught a faint glimpse of a black line streaking across the air before the saw closed in on Yan Hao.
"Bang!"
A dark iron hammer smashed against the ground, and thick cracks spread rapidly from the impact point. A deep yellow energy shot up from the fissures, striking the incoming saw with force, sending it flying into the sky.
"Again! Qian Ten Rings! Nine left to go!" Yan Hao laughed heartily as Dou Qi surged from within him, and his skin turned rock-like, taking on a grayish-white hue.
Qian Mo let out a knowing smile. Yan Hao's Dou Qi was of the earth attribute, specifically of the rarer Rock Dou Qi type, which toughened his body to the hardness of stone. Previously, such attributes would have restrained Qian Mo's weapon, which relied on stealthy strikes. But now…
In an instant, several razor-sharp Devil Croc Ring Saws shot from Qian Mo's hand like bolts of lightning.
The saws targeted Yan Hao at tricky angles. As one of the rings hit his body, Yan Hao thought it would only leave another grayish mark. But suddenly, a piercing black light flashed across the saw, and a dangerous aura filled Yan Hao with dread.
To the audience's shock, Yan Hao's rock-hard skin, which had resisted many attacks, was pierced by the black glow on the ring saw, exposing the flesh beneath.
"Hehe, Senior Yan Hao, how about the 'Wall-Breaking' effect of my Devil Croc Ring Saw?" Qian Mo said smugly.
"Qian, you were prepared, huh!" Yan Hao said with a grimace as blood trickled down his right arm.
"No choice! Our leader is an outstanding weapon refiner. You're not losing unjustly," Qian Mo chuckled.
"Mo Yu, is it…"
Though Yan Hao had known Mo Yu was a skilled weapon refiner, feeling the oppressive force of a weapon refined by Mo Yu firsthand made his heart sink. Not only was Mo Yu an exceptional cultivator, but his skills in weapon refining were also incredibly rare.
The balance of the battle had shifted completely after the ring saw's wall-breaking effect was unveiled. Yan Hao's rock-hard defense proved ineffective against Qian Mo's attacks, forcing him onto the defensive.
After nearly half an hour of relentless attacks, Yan Hao, covered in wounds, had no choice but to surrender. Under the gaze of the spectators, he reluctantly raised his hand, conceding the match.
No one was surprised by his surrender. With the numerous injuries inflicted by the ring saws, continuing might have cost him his life.
Qian Mo's unexpected victory astonished the crowd, especially with his decisive Devil Croc Ring Saw, bringing Mo Yu's name back into heated discussion.
After a brief intermission, the next match was announced.
Zi Yan vs. Qin Zhen—a match with a drastic difference in strength. Zi Yan seemed to be in a foul mood as she entered the arena, rolling up her sleeves and scanning the stage with her dark, fierce eyes.
Seeing her expression, many spectators couldn't help but shiver and silently pray for Qin Zhen.
However, even after a long wait, Qin Zhen didn't show up. Just as the crowd grew impatient, a weak voice called out, "Qin Zhen says he has a stomachache and won't be competing."
Silence fell over the arena, followed by a collective sigh. This was almost comical.
Elder Su Qian shook his head with a wry smile and announced, "Since Qin Zhen has conceded, we'll move on to the final match for the last spot in the top ten." Coughing lightly, he continued.
As Su Qian's words fell, countless eyes turned to the stage, focusing on Xiao Yan and Liu Qing.
Today's three matches—this last one would undoubtedly be the most anticipated.
One was a newcomer, a dark horse, and the other an experienced powerhouse.
Although Liu Qing had been defeated by Mo Yu before, his strength was widely acknowledged, and his reputation in the inner academy remained unscathed. On the other hand, Xiao Yan had been victorious throughout his journey, and many were eager to see if he could replicate Mo Yu's path to victory.
Amid the silence, all eyes locked onto the two figures on stage.
Under the audience's watchful gaze, Liu Qing stood first, stepping toward the edge of the stage and leaping down.
Landing heavily, he looked up at Xiao Yan, a spark of excitement in his eyes.
Although he no longer held hope of defeating a prodigy like Mo Yu, if he could defeat Mo Yu's equally gifted cousin, it would at least be a small consolation.
As Liu Qing made his entrance, the entire audience's attention centered on Xiao Yan alone.
Everyone wondered if this dark horse, second only to Mo Yu among the new arrivals, could maintain his winning streak against a peak veteran like Liu Qing.
With the crowd's attention on him, Xiao Yan remained calm, showing no fear of his opponent. Rising from his seat, he walked steadily toward the stage's edge…
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For exclusive access to 200+ advanced chapters and more, visit my Ko-fi page and support the journey:
ko-fi.com/laoyao95
Laoyao with L yeahh..thanks for the support.
or Support me at patreon for 200+ advanced chapters :
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